Emergency rubber overshoe



0a,. 19,1926. 1,603,923 H. J. POWERS, JR

EMERGENCY RUBBER OVERSHOE Filed June 8, 1923 Patented octfie, 1926."

UNITED STATES,

man 3.1.WEBS, m,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EIERGENGY RUBBER OVEBSEOE.

Application filed June 8,

This invention relates to a novel form of overshoe and has for its essential objects the provision of a very effective emergency rubber overshoe, adapted to be uniforml rolled upinto a very small space and whicmay be so cheaply manufactured and sold as to invite the purchase and wearing of if pair on a single occasion, but which shall, at the same time, be sufficiently durable to be worn on numerous occasions if desired.

A further and important object is to so construct such an overshoe that'when rolled into its compact space, it is ready for most immediateand easy application to the shoe 1 and may be correspondingly easily removed by a rolling movement,-bringing it again to the small compact form ready for subsequent wear.

A further object is to make the overshoe of very light ccinstruction using every small amount of resilient materiakthereby accomplishing economy and in addition causing the overshoe, by reason of its thinness and resiliency, to fit neatly in any position. To this end, I make the overshoe of substantially uniform thickness throughout, whereby it may be rolled on and W111 invariably position itself to neatly fit the shoe, and no re ard need be given to the idea of ri hts or lef ts, or even to the thought of whic is top or bottom. Further advantageous and unique characteristics of my overshoe will appear in the following-description, which relates to the accompanying drawings. The essential characteristics are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is substantially a side elevation of a preferred form of my overshoe, shown in position on ashoe; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the overshoe partly rolled on, this same position of the material thereof, occurring on the rolling off movement; Fi 3 is a perspective view illustrating the p acing of a pair of such overshoes in a ver small container when rolled; Fig. 4 is a s1de elevation of the overshoe before rolling; Fig. 5 is a transverse section throu h the same.

A ladys s oe is shown at A, with the overshoe 1 in position thereon. This consists of an elongated cap or tube-like member tapered approximately as shown, and closed at one end and open at the other. At the open end is shown a slightly enlarged l5 thickened portion in the nature of a bead 1023. Serial No. 644,011.

with which the wall is integral, extending therefrom in a gradual, taper, curving inwardly more sharply and merging with a substantiall ;hemispherical closure at the end, as in icated at 3. Noting the cross section of Fig. 5, it will be seen that the wall is. of uniform thickness throughout. The bead 2 is illustrative of any suitable reinforcing means. Two or more such beads may be used if desired, or for example, a broad, thicker band may serve equally well.

The material of the wall and bead is very resilient and in practice preferably not over, say, twenty or thirty thousandths ofan inch in thickness, whereby great economy of material is effected. By using resilient rubber I correspondingly increase the wearing quality, and practice has demonstrated that even with this thinness, a pair of these rubber overshoe? may be worn on city pavements while walking many miles without showing wear.

It am he noted that the length of the tube forming the overshoe is such as tocome well up into the instep, preferably slightly more than half the length of-the foot, so that the dampness of the pavement, shallow pools and the like, will not reach the leather of the shoe.

When the overshoes are rolled up as indicated at Fig. 3, they take the form of a rolled ring with the portion 3 across the center thereof and may be nested very neatly in a small package or box, such, for exam 16, as indicated at 5. From this position t ey.

may be placed upon the shoes with great facility as follows The ring is placed over the toe with the dome shaped portion 3 fitting over the convexity of the toe and by a rolling motion between the thumb and finger, drawing rearwardly on the shoe, the rubber wall of the shoe is drawn tightly and evenly into p0sition, until the bead 2 comes to the position shown in Fig. 1, the operation requiring but a brief moment. Because of the uniformity of the circumfer cc of the overshoe, no attention need be paid'to the thought of upper or lower portion, or of what part comes upon the sole. In fact, upon repeated wearings, the wearer may place the slightly worn portion on the upper part of. the shoe, presenting a fresh surface on the sole, thus accomplishing increased wear, without the necesslty of thickened rubber portions as is 11 essential with previous overshoe constructions.

The removal is equally easy. The slight head portion 2 facilitates the starting of the rolling action, the application of. the thumb and finger to opposite sides of the shoe with a forward movement, causing a uniform rolling action, rolling the wall around' the bead more or less loosely, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The com lete removal is efi'ectedby continuation of t is movement, and results in the overshoe again taking the form shown in Fig. 3, ready for the next convenient application, as described.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided an overshoe adapted-to take a very compact form, which may be very cheaply manufactured, both by reason of its extreme simplicity and the small amount of material required. The resiliency adds to the wearing quality and causes it to adjust itself to any shape of shoe. A minimum number of sizes will suffice for a wide variety of sizes ofshoes, because of the resiliency and stretch of which the overshoes are capable.

. The circumferential uniformity of the mosses wall of the tube forming the overshoe results in eat facility in placing the overshoe in position to be worn, there being no seams or sole portions which must be accurately placed in position, and which result in the necessity of having rights and lefts.

When in position my overshoe presents a very neat and trim appearance, being in fact, quite unnoticeable and yet very efiective- 1y accomplishing the purpose of keeping the foot dry.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim. is:- Y g An overshoe of the character described consisting of a tube of resilient nature, having one end closed in a convex portion integral with the wall of the tube, the tube being normally annular,. and substantially uniform at any plane of-transverse cross section, and having a reinforced portion at its open end, and being of a length corresponding to substantially half of the shoe for which it is intended.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aifix my signature.

HARRY J. POWERS, JR. 

